Baked Pimento Bacon Mac & Cheese
By Traeger Kitchen
1 Reviews
Throw some flavor into your mac and cheese routine. We’re adding a Southern staple, pimentos, and combining them with bacon for a sweet and smoky kick.
Prep Time
15 Min
Cook Time
50 Min
Pellets
Apple
Yields: 6 Servings
Ingredients
main
- To Taste
- kosher salt
- 4 Tablespoon
- (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 Medium
- yellow onion, finely diced
- 1/4 Cup
- plus 1 tablespoon diced pimento peppers
- 2 Clove
- garlic, minced
- 5 Tablespoon
- all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 Cup
- heavy cream
- 1 1/2 Cup
- whole milk
- 3 Sprig
- fresh thyme
- 1 Sprig
- fresh rosemary
- 2
- dried bay leaves
- 1 Tablespoon
- Whole black peppercorns
- 1 Pound
- Dried elbow macaroni
- 1 Pound
- shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 Cup
- panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 Cup
- grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 Tablespoon
- (1/2 stick) melted unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 Teaspoon
- smoked paprika
- 1/4 Cup
- cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 Teaspoon
- Chopped fresh parsley
Units of Measurement:
Steps
Step 1
When ready to cook, set the Traeger temperature to 350℉ and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
350 ˚F / 177 ˚C
Ingredients
To Taste kosher salt
Step 2
Melt the butter in a medium stock pot on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers and sauté until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds more.
Ingredients
4 Tablespoon (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 Medium yellow onion, finely diced
1/4 Cup plus 1 tablespoon diced pimento peppers
2 Clove garlic, minced
Step 3
Add the flour and stir well with a wooden spoon to coat the vegetables. Cook the roux until it smells slightly nutty, about 1 minute. While whisking, stream in the cream and milk and continue to whisk until any flour clumps are worked out.
Ingredients
5 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 1/2 Cup heavy cream
1 1/2 Cup whole milk
Step 4
Wrap the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and black peppercorns in cheesecloth and tie up with twine. Drop into the cream mixture and simmer until the liquid thickens, 15-20 minutes. Remove the cheesecloth bundle and discard.
Ingredients
3 Sprig fresh thyme
1 Sprig fresh rosemary
2 dried bay leaves
1 Tablespoon Whole black peppercorns
Step 5
Meanwhile, add the elbow noodles to the boiling water and cook for 6-8 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot.
Ingredients
1 Pound Dried elbow macaroni
Step 6
Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and whisk in the Gruyère until melted. Season with salt to taste.
Ingredients
1 Pound shredded Gruyère cheese
Step 7
Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and stir to coat thoroughly, then transfer to a large cast iron pan.
Step 8
In a medium bowl, combine the panko, Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and paprika and stir well. Sprinkle the mixture over the mac and cheese.
Ingredients
1 Cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 Tablespoon (1/2 stick) melted unsalted butter
1 1/2 Teaspoon smoked paprika
Step 9
Place the cast iron skillet on the grill grates. Close the lid and bake until the cheese sauce is bubbling and the top is lightly browned, 15-20 minutes.
00:20
350 ˚F / 177 ˚C
Step 10
Remove the mac and cheese from the grill, top with the bacon and parsley, and serve. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1/4 Cup cooked bacon, crumbled
1 Teaspoon Chopped fresh parsley
My Notes
In order to add notes for this recipe, you must log in or create an account.